Cracking Manawatu Cup Field

Bring on the Manawatu Cup! The $6,245 Provincial Cup has again attracted an outstanding field as seen by the dazzling lead in 457m race held at the Palmerston North venue last Monday.

Pictured: Timmy Trumpet who thumped his rivals over 457m at the Manawatu Raceway last Monday

Insufficient nominations were received by the club to run Manawatu Cup heats last Monday. Instead, what was actually Monday’s complete Cup field that fronted up at the venue seven days before to contest what can be termed a cup prelude. What a cracking 457m event it turned out to be, which says Monday’s straight final (race 12) is a not-to-be-missed decider!

The Karen Walsh trained Timmy Trumpet, who is the current NZ Middle Distance Greyhound of the Year, is simply ageless. At four and half years of age this fella just keeps on delivering everything he has and then some. How does his fearless 25.67s Monday win sound?

To achieve that win Timmy had to work his way around his rivals after jumping from trap eight. In doing so he kept up a sustained gallop throughout – simply amazing! He is also maintaining an extremely high winning strike rate as he has now won 42 of his 83 career races ($130,583 in stake earnings). He is required to hop away from the four trap on this occasion.

Kennelmate Thrilling Raider finished strongly on Monday, coming up two lengths short. He has compiled a super record over the 457m distance at this venue. Monday’s second was the first time he hasn’t been placed on top of the Manawatu podium after ten races over this 457m trip. Jumping away from trap eight is likely to make things rather interesting as the Raider has displayed strong railing tendencies.

Walsh also prepares the second reserve Thrilling Surge who has recently resumed racing from a spell. He is a quality chaser in his own right, who endured a completely luckless recent 457m outings both here and on his home Cambridge track.

It comes as no surprise to see Lisa Ahern mentored greyhounds dominating this field from her locally based kennels. She provides five finalists, plus the first reserve. Her recent Waterloo Cup winner Bigtime Paddy pressed on stoutly for his 2.1 length Monday 457m third. It’s probably fair to say that the big, sweeping one turn track isn’t really his racing forte, but in saying that he remains a solid winning prospect here owing to the early pace he displays. He has drawn to deliver on that asset from trap three here.

Allegro Gun is a Group race 457m winner on this track for Cole. His latest pair of 457m outings at this venue has resulted in luckless races. Stuck in between them is his strong pace making 30.03s Hatrick 520m win. That effort, coupled with his proven previous races around here illustrates his known ability. He has to make a smart beginning from the seven trap here.

Adding to the intrigue in the way this field has been drawn is the Cole prepared pair of inside trap drawn contenders. Bigtime Flyer will be sighted wearing the red racing vest on Monday after having completed his Friday evening Hatrick 520m assignment. He has no option but to quickly punch forward onto the early pace.

Bigtime Blue owns early pace as seen in his latest pair of races from the two trap. It is at the business end over this 457m trip that is the concern for him. His career has comprised on short course sprints which he has compiled a respectable record over. It is his pair of 457m misses that worries as seen when he faded over it last Monday.

Bigtime Fred cops the worse of the box draws here after being allocated the five trap to be loaded away into. This litter brother to Bigtime Paddy received no racing favours in last Monday’s version of this event. He has to create his own racing luck by hopping straight onto the early pace. He is proven over 457m here and he will also be backing up from Friday’s Hatrick 520m event.

First reserve Bigtime MacDaddy will race in that Friday evening Hatrick 520m race. He is a recent open class graduate who was contained in the rear group throughout when he made his open class debut in last Monday’s 457m race.

Nitehawk Rose is talented enough to earn herself a post race podium possie. We saw that when she flew home from the rear group to powerfully annex the recent 457m NZRS Advance final at this venue for her conditioner Bill Hodgson. She certainly isn’t known for her early pace however she is definitely known for her power packed finish. She can make things rather interesting at the business end here, especially if this final turns into a torrid affair as this girl won’t flinch when the pressure goes on.